Dr Caroline Wainwright

Profile

I am a Lecturer in Climate Science at the University of Leeds, involved in both undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. My research interests are around developing methods and approaches that contribute to the quantification of climate change related risk for vulnerable populations and conducting research around producing climate information to inform on suitable adaptation measures for such communities. My research is on two themes; robust and objective identification and characterisation of rainfall seasons throughout the tropics, and drivers of variability and change of African climate.

Research interests

My research is around climate variability and change over Africa. I am particularly interesting in exploring variability and changes in the seasonal cycle of rainfall over Africa, including recent trends, current variability, and future projected changes. I have worked on methodologies for characterising the seasonal cycle of precipitation across Africa and the tropics, and used these methodologies for a range of applications.

Recently, I have  also started working more in areas relating to the impacts of climate variability over Africa, particularly working in the areas of renewable energy generation and health. I am currently involved with a project looking at the impact of climate on migration in Madagascar.

Qualifications

• PhD, Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate, University of Reading
• MSc, Atmosphere, Ocean and Climate, University of Reading
• BSc, Maths with Geography, University of Exeter

Student education

My teaching is broadly on Climate Futures and climate change across the School of Earth and Environment.